As if there wasn’t enough drama in the “Twilight” world already! Now Director Catherine Hardwicke is stirring up even more controversy, pitting vampire against vampire.
According to Hardwicke, actress Rachelle Lefevre, who was recently booted from the saga’s third installment, wasn’t the director’s first pick for villainous vampire Victoria.
Who was, you ask? None other than Bryce Dallas Howard, the red-haired starlet who will replace Lefevre in the upcoming “Eclipse.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Dallas Howard initially turned down the role of Victoria in what became one of the biggest teen hits of the year. “I know we originally asked BDH (Bryce Dallas Howard) to do the first movie,” Hardwicke said, “but she thought it was too small a part at that time.”
Lefevre portrayed Victoria in both “Twilight,” and its sequel “New Moon,” which is set for release on November 20. When Lefevre’s role in the film “Barney’s Version” threatened to cut into the filming of the third installment in the triolgy, “Eclipse,” Summit Entertainment dropped her and promptly gave Dallas Howard the part.
In response to the recasting, Lefevre told EOnline, “I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for ‘Eclipse.’ I was fully committed to the ‘Twilight’ saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. . . I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the ‘Twilight’ audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate.”
Despite her preference for Dallas Howard, Hardwicke insists she was not instrumental in giving Lefevre the boot. “I cast [Lefevre], so I wish [producers at Summit Entertainment] could have worked out something,” she said. “I wasn’t involved in the negotiations, so I don’t know the details.”
As for the rest of the “Twilight” gang? Jackson Rathbone told MTV.com, “I would love to work with Rachelle again. I’m really sad that I’m not going to get to work with her on the final film of the franchise we started together.”
While Peter Facinelli shared Rathbone’s sentiments, he took an old actor’s approach to the situation. “The show must go on,” he said. “We’re going to embrace Bryce Dallas Howard — and I hope that the fans do, too.”
